The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-04
Bound TO THE MAST.
BY HENDRICK HUDSON.

its waters into an arm of the Gulf of Mex
leo, in the State of Florida, once lived q
wealthy planter by the name of Moncreith.
The house was located on the bank of the
river, and commanded view for some
miles in either direction. The dwelling,
with its large grove of orange trees and its
negro cabins grouped in the rear, looked
not unlike large depot at the side of
Western village.
Sherman Moncreith's family consisted of
a wife and two daughters, Grace and Hebe,
aged twenty and eighteen respectively.
Grace was winning in her manners, nor
was she lacking in beauty; but it was re-
served TO Hebe to reign as the belle OF the
country for miles around.
Many Of the young men, sons of neigh
boring planters, were ready to fall at her
feet, and offer themselves a sacrifice on the
altar of Hymen. Among all the suitors for
her hand, Hebe seemed to prefer Milton
Montague, young man who had just at
tanned his twenty-frst year. Perhaps il
was his extreme modesty that found him
place in the gentle heart of Hebe. Be this
as il may, the other admirers of the plant
er's daughter gradually drew off and gave
up the contest.
Among the frequenters Of the Moncreith
mansion was young sea captain by the
name of Mark Melville. Mark was cap
tain of coasting vessel called the Grey
Eagle. knowing people said that young
Melville was engaged in smuggling goods
into the United States from Cuba, and oc-
casionally from st. Thomas, n. p. He
himself said that he was engaged in legiti-
mate trade, running between one of the
small towns on the coast and New Orleans.
Mark had become desperately enamored
of Miss Moncreith, and was not long in
Offo III - hut 1x-
yet firmly refused. This threw him into
terrible rage; and Hebe, being pressed for
her refusal of his offer, did not hesitate to
inform him that she was already engaged
to Milton Montague. Melville smothered
his rage, but fully resolved on revenge. In
order to disarm suspicion, and encompass
his internal designs, he at once sought an
intimacy with Milton Montague, and, un-
der the guise of friendship, succeeded in
inducing him to take a cruise with him on
the Grey Eagle.
The evening was a delightful one as they
sailed out of the harbor. The land breeze
that filled the sails was richly perfumed
with tropical flowers. The sailors were
gathered in little knots on deck, spinning
yarns, as sailors SO love to do. The night
was glorious one; the moon now having
attained her full size came up from her
watery bed far over the gulf, causing the
gentle waves to glisten like molten silver.
Captain Melville and Montague we're pac-
ing the deck back and forth-the latter en-
joying his first voyage atsea, while the for
mer was racking his brain for some scheme
by which he would be able to rid himself
of successfuPrival.
The breeze suddenly died out, and the
sails tapped idly against the masts. The
sailors as quickly ceased to talk, and every
eye was searching the sky for storm
cloud, which the sudden dying of the breeze
foreboded.
ave shall have storm tonight, fear"
said Melville.
II pray God we may not" returned
Montague.
"Why?"
Because storm in this latitude is fear
full enough on land; it must be doubly so
on the ocean,"
Melville only chuckled, and told the man
aloft to keep q sharp lookout for signs of a
storm. They had not long to wait until
the man shouted down that he saw a small
cloud low down on the horizon to the
westward. The captain at once gave
gave orders to take in sail, and the men
went to work with will.
Rapidly as the men did their work, still
more rapidly came the storm cloud. At
gourd; and as it advanced, it spread in
width around the horizon until it present
ed one bold, broad front, across which the
lightning zig-zagged or shone forth in
vivid flashes.
All was hustle, but not confusion. The
men worked earnestly; each man per-
formed the duty assigned him, for there
was guiding hand whom they recognized
as master. On came the cloud, and pres
emily a roaring sound that grew louder as
it approached. Every sail save one had
been taken in. The wind struck the vessel,
and she was almost thrown on her beam
end; then she righted, and, shaking off the
water, sped away like a bird before the
gale. The single sail was blown into rib
bons and foated out in long streamers.
BY the advice of the Captain, Milton
Montague had gone below as the storm
drew near, and before the matches were
fastened down. Hour after hour the wind
howled through the rigging and the rain
fell in torrents. The waves tossed as if
in the widest agony. The men, though
drenched 10 the skin, stood manfully at
their posts. There seemed TO be n slight
lull in the storm, when the Captain went
below. When he returned, he called the
mate and two or three of the crew aside,
and told them that the young man had
the storm, and that, as they could not spare
any men to watch him, they must secure
him and bring him him on deck.
TO command was TO be obeyed, and the
mate, with half a dozen men at his heels,
descended into the cabin, and soon returned
with Montague, making all the resistance
possible, for he no doubt supposed there
was some conspiracy on board, and that he
was to be cast overheard. They bound
him fast to the mast, and then left him.
They had scarcely performed the duty
assigned them, when the man aloft shouted
that fearful cry, Breakers ahead" The
vessel was quickly put about, and sail after
sail unfurled, but they were blown into
pieces or literally wrenched from their fast
enings. The crew stood in despair, for the
vessel was slowly but surely drifting to de-
struction.
At last the vessel struck with q shock
that caused every timber to crack and trem-
BILE. The Captain ordered the boats to be
lowered, and the men into them.
"Are you not going to take your friend
with usp" asked the mate.
"No," said the Captain, "he is already
insane, and it can make no difference to
him whether he lives or dies"
The men were in no condition to ask
questions, and so took their places in the